Compare Classic Egypt by Travelous vs Egypt in 12 days - Full-Board Nile Cruise & Great Pyramids - LUXURY by Exoticca

Day 1: Cairo - Airport Assistance & Visa Service

Accommodation: The Mena House Palace Hotel - Premier Garden Pyramid View

Welcome to Cairo! Upon your arrival, you will be met at the end of the tunnel by an airport representative who will aid and facilitate you through the Visa process (cost included). You will then be escorted through customs, immigration, and assisted with baggage claim before being introduced to your Travelous representative who will be awaiting your arrival at passenger pick up and on call throughout your entire stay.

Cairo - Airport Transfer (Arrival)

Transfer in private vehicle with English speaking driver from the Airport to your hotel for overnight.

Day 2: Pyramids of Giza, Saqqara, & Memphis Tour (Lunch Included)

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: The Mena House Palace - Premier Garden Pyramid View

Spend a full day with your private certified Egyptologist who will provide fascinating insight to each of the three famed pyramids of Giza. Wander about these inspiring pyramids and visit the Solar Boat Museum which houses the intact solar ship vessel from Ancient Egypt. Continue to the feet of the Sphinx, the enigmatic symbol of Egypt for thousands of years. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Mena House before continuing to Saqqara, the vast, ancient burial ground, which served as the necropolis for the Ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis. Visit the famous step Pyramid of Zoser. Your final stop is Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt. Here you will see artifacts from many of the great rulers of Egypt, including the huge fallen statue of Ramses II.

Sunset Camel Ride (Dinner Included)

This evening set out before dusk towards the Ancient Pyramids of Giza for a Sunset Camel Ride. Take in the incredible sights set against a fiery sky as your camel gently paces through the golden sand dunes. Enjoy dinner at a traditional Bedouin restaurant before returning to your hotel for the night.

Day 3: Cairo - Airport Transfer (Depart)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Movenpick Royal Lily Nile Cruise - Deluxe Cabin

Transfer in private vehicle with full assistance from your hotel to Cairo Airport.

Flight: Cairo - Luxor (1 hr)

Flight from Cairo to Luxor. Duration is 1 hour. Flight times TBD.

Luxor - Airport Transfer (Arrival)

Welcome to Luxor. Transfer provided in private vehicle with English speaking driver from the Airport to your hotel.

Luxor is often characterized as the "world's greatest open-air museum", as the ruins of the temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city. Across the Nile River lie the monuments, temples and tombs on the West Bank, which include the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Archeologically, Luxor is the most important site in all of Egypt and a rare gem of a city, unlike any other in the world.

Luxor East Bank Tour (Lunch Included)

Your private tour takes you through the East Bank of the Nile to visit the Temples of Luxor and Karnak, largely the work of Amenhotep III and Ramesses II, whose colossi and obelisk stand at the entrance. Walk along the Avenue of Sphinx as you enter the complex while your guide explains how the massive facade was constructed and explore the Karnak Open Air Museum that features an amazing array of statuary and reconstructed temple structures.

Day 4: Luxor - West Bank Tour (Lunch Included)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Movenpick Royal Lily Nile Cruise - Deluxe Cabin

Visit the Valley of the Kings where you will see the intact royal tombs of the Pharaohs. Continue to Tombs of Princes in the Valley of the Queens. Stop at the magnificent temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir El-Bahri. Visit the Colossi of Memnon, two massive stone statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III. For the past 3,400 years, they have stood in the Theban necropolis, across the Nile River of modern Luxor. Your last stop will be at the Theban Necropolis, which was used for ritual burials during Pharaonic times.

Day 5: Nile - Edfu Private Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Movenpick Royal Lily Nile Cruise - Deluxe Cabin

Enjoy a privately guided exploration of the Temple of Edfu. This archaeological treasure beautifully dedicated to the falcon god Horus and built over a period of two thousand years. The inner walls of the building reveal the mysterious legends of Horus, born upon the death of his father, Osiris, the god of the underworld who was killed by his brother, Seth. The much beloved goddess Isis brought Horus into life from a piece of Osiris’ flesh. Horus later battled Seth and won the battle but lost an eye in the process. Hence, the eye of Horus has important religious symbolism in ancient Egyptian mythology. The Temple of Edfu was abandoned as a religious monument following Theodosius I edict banning non-Christian worship within the Roman Empire. Many of the temple's carved reliefs were destroyed in the process. The blackened ceiling of the hypostyle hall, visible today, is believed to be the result of arson intended to destroy religious imagery.

Nile - Kom Ombo Private Tour

Continue to the Temple of Kom Ombo, remarkable for its double design. As you walk through the temple complex, notice that the courts, halls, sanctuaries and rooms are duplicated for two sets of gods. The southern half of the temple was dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world. The northern part of the temple was dedicated to the falcon god Haroeris, also known as Horus the Elder. A few of the three hundred crocodile mummies discovered in the vicinity are displayed in The Crocodile Museum. Make sure to visit the strange instruments resembling surgical tools, located in the southeast corner of the complex!

Day 6: Aswan - High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Philae Temple

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Movenpick Royal Lily Nile Cruise - Deluxe Cabin

Explore Aswan with a stop at the High Dam, a modern architectural project containing more than 18 times the material used to build the Great Pyramid of Khufu! From a pavilion perched over the enormous rock and clay dam, you can admire the Temple of Kalabsha and one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, the impressive Lake Nasser. Continue to the Unfinished Obelisk, which was ordered by the longest reigning female pharaoh, Hatshepsut, who ruled for over 22 years. The Obelisk was carved out of bedrock, but it was quickly abandoned when large latent cracks were discovered on either side. This abandoned monument gives great insight into the stone-cutting techniques and tools used by the skilled ancient Egyptian workers. Continue to the fascinating Temple of Philae, moved to the Island of Agilkia after the waters of Lake Nasser flooded its original location. Dedicated to the greatly-revered goddess Isis, the Temple attracted thousands of pilgrims yearly during ancient times. Now encircled by crystal blue waters and adorned with lush foliage, the Temple will reveal the secrets of a bygone era.

Aswan - Kitchener Island by Felucca & Botanical Garden

Explore Aswan by traditional felucca and sail to Kitchener Island. Take a stroll through the peaceful gardens that display an array of colorful species of plants and trees. Visit the botanical gardens and learn about plants that have been imported from the most remote and exotic places in the world.

Day 7: Aswan - Airport Transfer (Depart)

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: Kempinski Nile Hotel - Nile Superior Room

Transfer in private vehicle with English speaking driver from your accommodations to the airport.

Flight: Aswan - Cairo (1.5 hr)

Flight from Aswan to Cairo. Duration is 1.5 hours. Flight times TBD.

Cairo - Airport Transfer (Arrival)

Transfer in private vehicle with English speaking driver from the Airport to your hotel for overnight.

Day 8: Egyptian Museum Private Tour (Lunch Included)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Kempinski Nile Hotel - Nile Superior Room

Today your private tour of the Egyptian Museum awaits. Built in 1891, The Egyptian Antiquities Museum is the second most visited attraction in Cairo. From the prehistoric era to the Greco-Roman period and housing more than 165,000 artifacts, the museum is home to the famous collection of King Tutankhamun and the Royal Mummies. Lose yourself in the many rooms and galleries where history is yours to discover. Enjoy a delicious lunch at the Citadel Restaurant in Al Azhar Park.

Day 9: Cairo - Airport Transfer (Depart)

Unfortunately, we say goodbye to you today. Transfer in private vehicle with full assistance to Cairo Airport for your flight home. Keep the memories alive and we hope to see you in Egypt again soon. Stay Travelous!

Day 1: US - Night on board

It's time to unearth the secrets of Ancient Egypt and get to know the vibrant culture of Egypt's most emblematic cities and sights. Arrive at your departure airport ready to check-in for a flight to Cairo *. Night on board. If either your outbound or inbound flights depart in the early hours (before 4:00 a.m.) you must arrive at the airport the night before the indicated departure day.

Day 2: Cairo

Touch down in Cairo and transfer to the hotel. Once you've settled in, the remainder of the day is free at your leisure to get to know the sights and sounds of Cairo, in the shadow of the Great Pyramids! Go shopping at the local souk or sample the national cuisine. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 3: Cairo

Breakfast in the hotel. Visit the only remaining ancient Seven Wonders of the World Today. Head to the Giza plateau, home of the three Great Pyramids, built over 4,500 years ago and dedicated to the Pharaohs of ancient Egypt! Explore the pyramids and learn about their fascinating history as you walk in the footsteps of the pharaohs. Afterwards, continue to the amazing Great Sphinx, the symbolic guardian of the pyramids. The afternoon is free at your leisure to explore Cairo at your own pace. We recommend an optional excursion to Memphis and the necropolis of Sakkara.* Overnight stay in Cairo. * Optional excursion to Memphis and Sakkara: Visit Memphis, once the place of residence of the Egyptian pharaohs. See the stepped pyramid, built by Imhotep and explore the complete funeral complex of Mastabas. Continue to Mit Rahina to visit the open-air museum and explore the necropolis of Sakkara. Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 4: Cairo

Breakfast in the hotel. Enjoy a day at your leisure in captivating Cairo, exploring its atmospheric streets, or opt for an optional visit to the legendary Egyptian Museum where you can trace the history of Egypt's ancient civilization. In the afternoon, we recommend taking an optional excursion to the Saladin Citadel,* home to the breathtaking Alabaster Mosque. Overnight stay in Cairo. * Optional Saladin Citadel excursion: Visit the Alabaster Mosque and medieval fortification of Saladin Citadel, perched atop a hill in central Cairo and dating back to the 12th-century. Learn about the importance of the site to Egypt's Islamic heritage and walk through the Coptic Neighborhood. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 5: Cairo - Luxor

Breakfast at the hotel. At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight to Luxor. On arrival, transfer to the port to board your Nile Cruise Boat, your home for the next four nights on a full-board basis. Get settled in your cabin and enjoy lunch and the views of the river Nile. In the afternoon, visit the Temple of Karnak, a huge complex of ruined temples, columns and other buildings. On the way back to the ship, stop at the impressive Temple of Luxor, dedicated to Amun-Ra, Mut and Khonu and built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. Back on the ship, enjoy the remainder of the evening at your leisure. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 6: Luxor - Esna

Full-board on board. Begin the day with a visit to the legendary Valley of the Kings, the burial site of the Pharaohs between the 18th and 20th Egyptian dynasties and the famous site of the tomb of Tutankhamun. After exploring the valley, head to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set on large terraces beneath the cliffs at Deir el-Bahari. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, two imposing stone statues of the Pharaoh Amenhotep III. In the afternoon the cruise will set sail towards Esna where you will cross the famous Esna Lock that allows the boat to sail up the Nile towards the Nile cataracts rapids. Overnight on board. Please note: The excursion to the Valley of the Kings includes visits to three tombs. Entrance to the tomb of Tutankhamun is not included but, if you are interested in visiting, you can buy a ticket to see this tomb at the site during your visit.

Day 7: Esna

Full-board on board. Sit back and relax as you enjoy a day at your leisure. Watch the scenery float by and soak up the amazing panorama from the cruise boat as you drift along the Nile. The Nile provides life, water and works for over 80% of the population making for fascinating scenes as you travel along. Gain a real insight into the life of everyday Egyptians and take advantage of the sundeck to haggle with the local vendors who float alongside the cruise boat in their rowing boats, trying to sell their wares. Overnight on board.

Day 8: Esna - Aswan

Full-board on board. Today, enjoy a tour of Aswan to uncover the sights of this fascinating city. Explore the famous granite quarry, where the building blocks of many of ancient Egypt's monuments were produced. Next, board a traditional felucca, a typical fishing boat, to sail around the Nile cataracts, admiring the stunning scenery and natural islands in the narrowest parts of the river. Afterwards, return to the ship and enjoy the afternoon at your leisure. We recommend exploring the souks of Aswan or relaxing in a local cafe with a traditional water pipe. Overnight on board.

Day 9: Aswan

Full-board on board. This morning, we recommend an optional visit to the amazing temples of Abu Simbel.* Today, it's time to discover the impressive High Dam of Aswan, the world's largest embankment dam, which was built during the 1960s. This mighty Dam is so important because it helps to controls flooding, generates power, and improves navigation across the Nile. The rest of the day is free at your leisure to relax and enjoy the Nile scenery at your own pace. Overnight on board. * Optional Excursion to Abu Simbel: Visit these amazing temples, carved on the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the Xl century BC. See the iconic 20-metre high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, and the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. * Optional excursion to the Island of Philae: Discover the historic island of Philae, in the reservoir of the Old Aswan Dam. It is home to the ancient ruins of the Temple of Isis and offers a fascinating insight into life and beliefs in Ancient Egypt. Please note: If you take the optional excursion to Abu Simbel, you will depart from the ship at approximately 3 a.m. to make the most of the coolest and quietest part of the day. This way, you can fully experience Abu Simbel without the crowds and avoid sightseeing in high temperatures. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 10: Aswan - Kom Ombo

Full-board on board. Set off for Kom Ombo, arriving in the late afternoon. Upon arrival explore the twin Temples of Haroeris and Sobek and see the amazing Nilometer, used to measure the rising and falling levels of the Nile, an important source of life in Egypt. Overnight on board. Alternatively, for a full experience of Egypt, you can choose one of our optional excursion packages to add 3/4 optional excursions to your trip! Important: The order of the optional excursions may vary depending on your departure day.

Day 11: Kom Ombo - Luxor

Full-board on board. Disembark the ship and take a horse-drawn carriage ride to the magnificent Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the famous, falcon-headed Egyptian god, Horus. Considered to be one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt it is said that the temple was built upon the battleground of a mythical fight between the gods Seth and Horus. Explore the atmospheric temple ruins as you trace the footsteps of the Pharaohs. Return to the ship and continue sailing north to Luxor. Overnight on board.

Day 12: Luxor - Cairo

Breakfast on board. At the indicated time, disembark the ship and transfer to Luxor airport for a short flight back to the capital of Cairo. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon free to enjoy a wander around the bazaar to pick up some last-minute souvenirs, indulge in delicious Egyptian cuisine or simply relax at your own pace. Overnight stay in Cairo.

Day 13: Cairo - US

Breakfast at the hotel.* At the indicated time, transfer to the airport for a flight back to the US. Arrive in the US and end your trip.** * Depending on the return flight schedule and the hotel breakfast service, you may not be able to enjoy the included breakfast on the last day. ** Depending on the choice of flight, you may arrive back in the US the following day.